The Trump administration launched a digital claims system on Monday to begin refunding businesses that paid import tariffs. The online portal, named Cape, opened at 8 a.m. following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in mid-February that the president lacked the legal authority to impose the tariffs, rendering them illegal and unconstitutional.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated in court filings that more than 330,000 importers paid approximately $166 billion across more than 53 million shipments. The agency noted that the digital system can currently handle about 63% of affected import filings, with the remaining filings to follow.
Thousands of companies have already rushed to file claims through the portal, with $127 billion in eligible claims already registered. However, the refund process could take months to complete, and it is expected that shoppers will see few benefits.